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UCU Scotland policy

UCU Scotland is actively involved in helping to shape all aspects of Scottish higher education.

The main policy-making body for UCU Scotland is the annual Congress. The UCU Scotland Executive is charged with implementing this policy.

We are especially involved with trying to shape future policy on higher education and related funding decisions.

Funding of higher education

Scottish universities have a world-class reputation, but they can only maintain and build on that standard if they are adequately funded. Universities have to be funded to the same level as the UK's competing nations if they are to succeed at the heart of Scotland's knowledge economy. Funds for higher education are an investment in Scotland's future job and wealth creation.

Staff: the key resource

The key activities of universities rely on their highly qualified academic and related staff, and their roles in teaching, learning and research. Pay needs to be significantly increased to reward and retain these staff and attract postgraduates. In line with the European fixed-term directive, permanent employment should be the norm. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) must ensure that job security is established and all forms of pay discrimination eliminated.

Student finance and access

The present Scottish system for student finance including the absence of tuition fees is preferable to that elsewhere in the UK. UCU Scotland is opposed to the use of up-front fees, top-up fees or student quotas and the student finance system should be extended to include part-time students. More needs to be done to widen access to higher education for all who can benefit.

Governance

UCU Scotland welcomed the passing of a bill by the Scottish government which introduced new measures to make the governance of higher education institutions more transparent, and enable the election of chairs.

require higher education institutions ('HEIs') to appoint the chair of their governing body in accordance with an agreed, consistent process. Through this, the Scottish government aims to introduce elected chairs for the governing bodies of all Scottish higher education institutions

ensure that staff, students and trade unions are included in the membership of HEI governing bodies

limit the membership of academic boards to no more than 120 people

strengthen the current statutory definition of academic freedom by explicitly protecting the freedom to develop and advance new ideas and innovative proposals.

Manifestos

In 2016 Scotland voted in the fifth Scottish parliament elections since the re-establishment of the parliament in 1999. In advance of the election UCU Scotland set out seven policy proposals for higher education and called on politicians from all parties to recognise the value of higher education and support these proposals:
Manifesto for the 2016 Scottish parliament elections, Mar 16 [253kb]